2016-01-19                     Senate Journal                      Page 1605
To increase administrative efficiency for the Department of Revenue                                                             
and state taxpayers, the bill would require the electronic submission of                                                        
tax returns with an exemption available upon request. The bill would                                                            
also establish an application fee of $50 for a mining license                                                                   
application and for each annual renewal.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The bill is an integral component of the New Sustainable Alaska Plan                                                            
to provide a balanced and sustainable budget for Alaska's long-term                                                             
fiscal stability.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 138                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 138 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act making appropriations, including                                                                           
             capital appropriations, reappropriations, and                                                                      
             other appropriations; making appropriations to                                                                     
             capitalize funds; and providing for an effective                                                                   
             date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 15:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Meyer:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the State's capital                                                          
budget for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 2017).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The proposed capital budget totals $1.3 billion, of which $957 million                                                          
is federal funds, $195 million is unrestricted general funds, and $111                                                          
million is other funds. The budget provides minimum capital funding